Liapunov's Stability Criterion - Control

Systems Questions and Answers -

Sanfoundry
by Manish

This set of Control Systems Multiple Choice Questions & Answers (MCQs) focuses on
“Liapunov’s Stability Criterion – I”.

1. If the system is asymptotically stable irrespective that how close or far it is from the origin
then the system is:
a) Asymptotically stable
b) Asymptotically stable in the large
c) Stable
d) Unstable
View Answer

Answer: b
Explanation: For the good control system system must be stable and if the system is
asymptotically stable irrespective that how close or far it is from the origin then the system is
asymptotically stable in large.

2. A system is said to be locally stable if:

a) The region S (e) is small
b) There exist a real number >0 such that || x (t0) || <=r
c) Every initial state x (t0) results in x (t) tends to zero as t tends to infinity
d) They are unstable
View Answer

Answer: a
Explanation: By the definition of Liapunov’s stability criteria a system is locally stable if the
region of system is very small.

3. The system is asymptotically stable at the origin if :

a) It is stable
b) There exist a real number >0 such that || x (t0) || <=r
c) Every initial state x (t0) results in x (t) tends to zero as t tends to infinity
d) It is unstable
View Answer

Answer: d
Explanation: By the definition of Liapunov’s stability criteria the system is asymptotically stable
at the origin if there exist a real number >0 such that || x (t0) || <=r and every initial state x (t0)
results in x (t) tends to zero as t tends to infinity .

4. The system is asymptotically stable in the large at the origin if :

a) It is stable
b) There exist a real number >0 such that || x (t0) || <=r
c) Every initial state x (t0) results in x (t) tends to zero as t tends to infinity
d) Both a and c
View Answer

Answer: d
Explanation: By the definition of Liapunov’s stability criteria the system is asymptotically stable
in the large at the origin if there exist a real number >0 such that || x (t0) || <=r and every initial
state x (t0) results in x (t) tends to zero as t tends to infinity.

5. The stability of non-linear systems:

a) Disturbed steady state coming back to its equilibrium state
b) Non-linear systems to be in closed trajectory
c) In limit cycles that is oscillations of the systems
d) All of the mentioned
View Answer

Answer: d
Explanation: For the stability of non-linear systems as they differ from the linear systems as they
have disturbed state coming back to its equilibrium and in closed trajectory and in limit cycles
that is oscillations in the system.

6. The direct method of Liapunov is :

a) Concept of energy
b) Relation of stored energy
c) Using the equation of the autonomous systems
d) All of the mentioned
View Answer

Answer: d
Explanation: Liapunov has two methods as direct and indirect and the direct method of Liapunov
is using concept of energy, relation of stored energy and using the equation of the autonomous
systems.

7. The results for the energy :

a) Energy of the system is non-negative
b) Energy of the system decreases as t increases
c) Energy is non-negative and decreases as t increases
d) Energy is negative
View Answer
Answer: c
Explanation: Energy is defined as the work done or force which produces certain displacement
and the results for the energy are that energy of the system in non-negative and it decreases as t
increases.

8. The visual analogy of the Liapunov energy description is:

a) Ellipse
b) Circle
c) Square
d) Rectangle
View Answer

Answer: a
Explanation: For the results of the Liapunov energy the loci is traced by the Liapunov energy
description and is a ellipse.

9. The idea that the non-negative scalar functions of a system state can also answer the question
of stability was given in Liapunov function:
a) True
b) False
View Answer

Answer: a
Explanation: The stability of the liapunov function can be determined with the help of the scalar
functions of a system state.

10. The method of investigating the stability using Liapunov function as the ________________
a) Direct method
b) Indirect method
c) Not determined
d) Always unstable
View Answer

Answer: a
Explanation: Liapunov’s stability is the major factor of the autonomous functions and it can be
determined with the help of the direct method.

Control Systems Aptitude Test - Sanfoundry

by Manish

This set of Control Systems Questions and Answers for Aptitude test focuses on “Liapunov’s
Stability Criterion – II”.
1. The systems with equation such as dx/dt =F (x) are called:
a) Stable systems
b) Control systems
c) Autonomous systems
d) Unstable control system
View Answer

Answer: c
Explanation: Autonomous systems are represented by the differential equations as stated above
and these systems are tested by liapunov’s stability criteria.

2. The points at which derivatives of all the state variables are zero are:
a) Singular points
b) Nonsingular points
c) Poles
d) Zeros
View Answer

Answer: a
Explanation: Singular points are the points that are calculated by equating the denominator equal
to zero and at which the derivatives of all the state variables are zero.

3. The system if kept in the singular points will continue to lie on these points undisturbed.
a) True
b) False
View Answer

Answer: a
Explanation: The derivative of all the phase variables being zero, the system shall remain
unchanged and the system if lying on these points will continue to lie on these points
undisturbed.

4. A system is stable with zero input if:

a) The resulting trajectory tends towards the equilibrium state.
b) If for the bounded input output is also bounded
c) It is a free system
d) It is forced system
View Answer

Answer: a
Explanation: A system with zero input is the system in which the input is zero and initial states
are taken as the input and a free system but it is stable only if the resulting trajectory tends
toward the equilibrium state.

5. A Forced system is stable if:

a) The resulting trajectory tends towards the equilibrium state.
b) If for the bounded input output is also bounded
c) It is a free system
d) It is forced system
View Answer

Answer: b
Explanation: For forced system input is given externally and response has two terms due to the
initial states and input given and it is stable if output is bounded for bounded input.

6. In non-linear systems forced and free responses are:

a) Related
b) Not related
c) Contemporary
d) None of the mentioned
View Answer

Answer: a
Explanation: Forced response is due to the external input and free response is due to the initial
state and total response is sum of both the responses and in non-linear systems both are related.

7. The linear autonomous systems:

a) Have one equilibrium state
b) Their behavior determines the qualitative behavior of the s-plane
c) System behavior for small deviations about the equilibrium point may be different from the
large deviation
d) Both a and b
View Answer

Answer: d
Explanation: The linear autonomous systems having the differential terms with the linear
relationship and have one equilibrium state and their behavior determines the qualitative
behavior of the s-plane.

8. The non-linear system

a) Have one equilibrium state
b) Their behavior determines the qualitative behavior of the s-plane
c) System behavior for small deviations about the equilibrium point may be different from the
large deviation
d) Both a and b
View Answer

Answer: c
Explanation: For the non-linear system where the input parameters or external input is having
non-linear relationship with the output and behavior for small deviations about the equilibrium
point may be different from the large deviation.
9. The system is stable at origin if for every initial state which is sufficiently close to the origin
remains near the origin for all t then the system is :
a) Asymptotically stable
b) Asymptotically stable in the large
c) Stable
d) Unstable
View Answer

Answer: c
Explanation: By definition, the system is stable at origin if for every initial state which is
sufficiently close to the origin remains near the origin for all t then the system is stable.

10. If x (t) approaches near the origin as t tends to infinity then the system is :
a) Asymptotically stable
b) Asymptotically stable in the large
c) Stable
d) Unstable
View Answer

Answer: a
Explanation: By definition, if x (t) approaches near the origin as t tend to the infinity then the
system is asymptotically stable.

Liapunov Direct Method & Linear System -

Control Systems Questions and Answers -
Sanfoundry
by Manish

This set of Control Systems Multiple Choice Questions & Answers (MCQs) focuses on “The
Direct Method and Constructing of Liapunov for the Linear and Non-Linear System”.

1. If the Liapunov’s function cannot be found then the system is:

a) Stable
b) Unstable
c) Conditionally stable
d) Marginally stable
View Answer

Answer: b
Explanation: It is very difficult to find the Liapunov’s function and several techniques are
devised for the same and if the Liapunov’s function is not available then the system is unstable.
2. Liapunov’s stability analysis is for the :
a) LTI system
b) Time variant system
c) Non-linear system
d) Linear system
View Answer

Answer: c
Explanation: Liapunov’s stability criterion is for the non-linear system.

3. The system is unstable for:

a) W (x)>0; x not equal to zero
b) W (0) =0
c) W (x) has continuous partial derivative with respect to all components of x
d) All of the mentioned
View Answer

Answer: d
Explanation: It requires much ingenuity of devise a suitable W function to devise a Liapunov
function V. In stability analysis of nonlinear systems, it is valuable to establish conditions for
which the system is unstable.

4. Liapunov’s stability for non-linear system is same as the Routh Hurwitz criteria for the linear
system.
a) True
b) False
View Answer

Answer: a
Explanation: Liapunov stability is similar in function as the Routh Hurwitz criteria and
Silvester’s theorem can be used to prove it.

5. Conditions of ___________ are necessary and sufficient condition for the asymptotic stability
of the system.
a) Linear system
b) Krasovskii’s method
c) positive definiteness
d) Variable gradient method
View Answer

Answer: c
Explanation: For the system to be asymptotic stable which is desired for the Liapunov stability
positive definiteness of the system must be fulfilled.

6. It is difficult to form Liapunov’s function for:

a) Linear system
b) Non-linear
c) Time variant systems
d) Time –invariant systems
View Answer

Answer: b
Explanation: For non-linear system it is difficult to form the Liapunov’s function
And we use various method to do this.

7. If the V is positive definite, for the system to be asymptotically stable, Q should be negative
definite.
a) Krasovskii’s method
b) Variable gradient method
c) Constant method
d) Non-variable gradient method
View Answer

Answer: a
Explanation: If the V is positive definite, for the system to be asymptotically stable, Q should be
negative definite. For Krasovskii’s method and in addition V should tend to infinity and the
system is asymptotically stable in-the large.

8. The method which provides considerable flexibility in finding the Liapunov’s function is:
a) Krasovskii’s method
b) Variable gradient method
c) Constant method
d) Non-variable gradient method
View Answer

Answer: b
Explanation: Variable gradient method provides considerable flexibility in finding the
Liapunov’s function as the quadratic form approach is too restrictive.

9. Liapunov stability analysis is different from the classical theories approach of stability.
a) True
b) False
View Answer

Answer: a
Explanation: Liapunov’s stability theorem is applied for the non-linear systems but other stability
theorems are applied for the linear systems.

10. For non-linear systems the equation for damping factor as in linear system is
called__________
a) Krasovskii’s equation
b) Vander Pol’s equation
c) Constant method
d) Non-variable gradient equation
View Answer

Answer: b
Explanation: For non-linear systems the equation for damping factor as in linear system is called
Vander pol’s equation which depends upon x and damping factor has large positive values for
this.